The role and responsibilities of a trustee in South Australia
A trust is a vehicle through which property is legally held by a trustee for the benefit of others. It separates the beneficial and legal ownership of property. The parties to a trust are the settlor (person creating the trust), the trustee (the legal owner of trust...
Obtaining interim orders in the Family Courts
Separated couples who are unable to resolve matters regarding parenting and finances through mutual agreement can apply for interim orders in the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court of Australia. Interim orders are “temporary orders” and usually made as a matter of...
Social media and family law – Just don’t do it!
Social media - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and the like - can be a lot of fun and have become an accepted part of modern life. Many of us use such forms of electronic communication to share the exciting, as well as the banal events in our lives, to express...
Elder Abuse
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is 15 June each year. This annual event acknowledges the prevalence of elder abuse, educates communities and individuals to recognise the signs of abuse, and encourages loved ones victims and others to speak up and to seek support and...
Appointing a Solicitor as Executor of your Will
Appointing a Solicitor as Executor of your Will An executor is a person who will carry out the terms of your Will once you have passed away. You can appoint more than one executor. In South Australia there is no limit to the number of executors you can appoint. We are...
Was it a loan or a gift? – Big difference!
Housing affordability is a big issue for young Australians. When discussing that issue once, a former Prime Minister infamously remarked that the solution was for parents to “shell out” to help their children buy a home. For those lucky enough to have parents able to...
Marriage, divorce and your Will – What you need to know
About half of all Australians do not have a valid Will. Of those who do, many put their Will away in the bottom drawer of their filing cabinet and never think of it again. But making a Will is not a once in a lifetime task. Rather, it’s something that needs to be...
Fact or fiction – top 5 myths about family law property settlements
Most people know someone who has been affected by a family breakup. It is usually a very stressful and emotional time where people are anxious about divorce, the property settlement and the emotional wellbeing and care arrangements for children. Unfortunately this is...
The importance of financial advice in a family law property settlement
Most family law property settlements are reached through negotiation, without the need to attend Court. Negotiations can be formally documented through a binding financial agreement or consent orders filed with the Courts. As a last resort, the parties may need to...
Do you have a business partner? Then you need a Partnership Agreement!
A Partnership Agreement is a contract between all of the partners in a business which outlines each partner’s duties and responsibilities, governs important matters that arise from the business, and details processes for making business decisions and for resolving...